By Eric Duhatschek, Shayna Goldman and Corey Pronman
The commerce
Canucks get: F Elias Lindholm
Flames get: F Andrei Kuzmenko, a 2024 first-round choose, D Hunter Brzustewicz, D Joni Jurmo and a conditional 2024 fourth-round choose
Eric Duhatschek: There’s a quaint notion within the NHL that fierce divisional rivals gained’t make trades with one another, a indisputable fact that has been disproved many occasions not too long ago, together with as soon as earlier this season. That’s when the Canucks and Flames made their first commerce of the 12 months, Vancouver getting Nikita Zadorov from the Flames, Calgary settling for third- and fifth-round picks in change. Most didn’t just like the deal on the time. Most have grudgingly come to concede it’s respectable worth over time.
Which can be how the newest transaction between the 2 groups goes to have to be evaluated.
Over time.
GO DEEPER
Canucks purchase Lindholm from Flames for Kuzmenko
Within the quick time period, it helps the Canucks enormously. If Lindholm was the highest middle within the market this 12 months, then the Canucks landed him, 5 weeks forward of the NHL commerce deadline, with out giving up a contributing participant on the roster. It hearkens again to a different deal made proper round now a 12 months in the past, when the Canucks traded away the No. 1 middle out there on the 2023 deadline, Bo Horvat, to the New York Islanders, for a first-rounder, a participant and a prospect.
However Horvat was having a wonderful 12 months for Vancouver, so his worth was excessive. Lindholm was moping by a a lot much less efficient 12 months for Calgary, his scoring numbers means down, although his status stays good. At his greatest, he might be one of the vital efficient two-way facilities within the league. Good within the faceoff circle. Good on the penalty kill. Some years, he’d be talked about within the Selke Trophy dialog — although not this 12 months.
However Lindholm provides a component to a Vancouver group that it will probably use, if not desperately want. Somebody who can play within the prime 9 and has the flexibility, if needed, to shift to the fitting wing, which is the place his Calgary profession started. For Vancouver, it’s a transparent sign that the Canucks imagine this 12 months’s surge isn’t any fluke and that their possibilities of making some playoff noise are pretty much as good as anybody else’s.
Lindholm, arguably, was essentially the most coveted expertise out there on the deadline — and Vancouver bought him off the market with 5 weeks to go. It’s a pleasant feather of their cap — and speaks to how the connection between two comparatively inexperienced GMs, the Canucks’ Patrik Allvin and the Flames’ Craig Conroy, has developed fairly quickly.
However Calgary did effectively too. A primary-rounder in 2024. A conditional fourth-rounder in 2024. Plus, two prospects, each of them intriguing, in all probability Brzustewicz extra so than Jurmo, after which Kuzmenko, essentially the most seen and thus identified product, who’s struggling by a mediocre second NHL season after an excellent NHL debut.
In Kuzmenko, the Flames hope to have discovered one other participant in want of a change of surroundings.
Bear in mind how closely the Flames had been criticized after they picked up Yegor Sharangovich from the New Jersey Devils, plus a third-rounder, for Tyler Toffoli? It took time, however finally that commerce has paid good dividends for Calgary. You possibly can simply think about a state of affairs through which Sharangovich and Kuzmenko develop some chemistry and might be top-six forwards on a Flames group that’s attempting to work a few of their youthful gamers and prospects into the on a regular basis NHL lineup.
Conroy additionally made it clear that he would fortunately take prospects over draft picks and that’s what Brzustewicz seems like. Drafted seventy fifth final June, within the third spherical of the 2023 draft, the 19-year-old has 69 factors in 47 video games for OHL Kitchener this 12 months, spectacular numbers for a right-shot defenseman. You don’t have to look at Calgary for too lengthy nowadays to know its crying want for somebody to quarterback the facility play.
In idea, that’s what Brzustewicz will finally turn into. Jurmo was a third-rounder, chosen in 2020 and presently taking part in in Finland, who’s a giant physique — 6-foot-3, 207 kilos.
Some may marvel if Conroy had waited, may he have gotten a bigger bundle? However as was the case when he shopped Zadorov earlier this season, he let groups know what it will take to get the deal achieved; and if the bidders had been lukewarm, then he went in a distinct path.
I personally like that strategy — particularly when it comes from a first-year GM. Set your worth. Maintain agency. Make one of the best deal you possibly can. However follow your weapons — which sends a message to his new friends.
Just lately, Conroy and I spoke at size about working philosophy, and he made this level to me: Whereas everybody on social media needs each commerce to be a transparent win, the article is to make a good deal, one which — in idea — helps each groups meet no matter their particular targets are within the second. This has an opportunity to do exactly that. Vancouver’s Stanley Cup hopes get an infinite increase, particularly if Lindholm — who’s in a contract 12 months — is available in motivated to show that he might be an elite contributor, as a result of he clearly needs to receives a commission as an elite contributor. Calgary will get somewhat one thing for in the present day — and theoretically, much more for tomorrow. Truthful, in different phrases.
Canucks grade: B
Flames grade: B
Shayna Goldman: Credit score to the Canucks for going daring ahead of later. The group isn’t simply banking on a powerful begin to carry it by the second half — they’re actively enhancing the group to raised their possibilities when it issues most. Vancouver’s completely proper to go all in. That is the kind of season to put money into.
Lindholm is a perfect match for the Canucks. This group actually may use a middle-six increase that he ought to present. He’s a flexible middle who might be relied on in all conditions, towards prime competitors.
The one crimson flag is that his recreation has declined during the last two years since his peak in 2021-22, and his scoring is down this season. However Vancouver ought to really feel fairly assured in a rebound; Lindholm gained’t shoot under 7 % without end and will begin changing on his possibilities at the next clip within the second half of the season. Plus, the Canucks aren’t anticipating him to come back in and carry out just like the high-end first-line middle the Flames wanted him to be — he’s comfortably going to maneuver behind Elias Pettersson on the second line. Between that even-strength function, and certain a while on the highest energy play, he ought to have extra assist than he’s had in Calgary this 12 months.
If that rebound doesn’t occur, Vancouver will not be locked in previous this season, anyway. Administration didn’t signal him to an immediate extension and overcommit off the bat, which is for one of the best contemplating Lindholm’s doubtless ask, long-term trajectory, and the Canucks’ cap scenario.
From the Canucks’ perspective, the return is comparatively steep for a participant in a down 12 months. Nevertheless it’s not too far off from the Horvat and Ryan O’Reilly trades from final both. Vancouver added one of the best participant available on the market to suit its middle wants, which goes so as to add worth to this roster. And there’s nonetheless time (and belongings) out there for every other needed tweaks. Plus, the return didn’t simply usher in Lindholm, however cleared Kuzmenko’s $5.5 million cap hit. That was pivotal for Vancouver, particularly with rising prices forward subsequent season.
The return for Calgary isn’t excellent or overwhelming, but it surely’s wonderful. Possibly the Flames may have waited for extra, as groups felt the necessity to enhance nearer to the deadline. However their leverage could have dwindled by then too, because it’s getting fairly apparent what their path needs to be.
Certain, Calgary is taking a wage dump in Kuzmenko. However perhaps he can rebound in a better function with the Flames than he had this season in Vancouver. It’s unrealistic to assume that he’ll shoot nearly 27 % once more. But when he can find yourself someplace in between final season’s heights and this 12 months’s disappointment, it may add some much-needed scoring pop to the Flames’ middle-six.
The true spotlight for Calgary is the 2024 first. Brzustewicz is a stable add, too. The Flames want younger up-and-coming gamers to be part of this subsequent period. Including a puck-moving defender like Brzustewicz is wise since pending UFA Noah Hanifin will doubtless be on the transfer pre-deadline — so long as he can turn into an NHL-caliber defenseman.
Canucks grade: B+
Flames grade: B-
Corey Pronman: Lindholm is a good all-around middle. He skates effectively. He has a number of particular person talent. He could make performs, has a powerful shot and he has a powerful two-way recreation down the center. Whereas gifted, he is probably not the game-breaking kind of talent participant to be a real 1C on a contender, however he could possibly be a wonderful 2C on the Canucks. I’m a giant believer within the Canucks. I like their goalie and skater group and assume they’ve an actual probability to win this season so I’m all in favor of pushing their chips in. They get the highest rental available on the market, which can assist their top-ranked offense turn into much more distinguished from the pack. They get out from a foul contract in Kuzmenko as effectively, who was changing into fairly replaceable of their lineup.
Kuzmenko is a ahead with a ton of talent. He’s a stable compete kind as effectively who can create on the inside. Kuzmenko got here flying out of the gates in his rookie season, however as a small common skating winger who I’d not name an elite offensive kind with the puck he’s come crashing all the way down to earth this season. He’s not well worth the massive deal Vancouver gave him however Kuzmenko is a prime 9 NHL ahead who might be on an influence play.
Brzustewicz is a extremely expert puck-moving defenseman with high-end imaginative and prescient who has been a prime defenseman within the OHL this season. He skates effectively, and might make performs with tempo which supplies some confidence that his offense will translate to the professionals. The considerations on his recreation are the average-sized body, so-so physicality and whether or not he’ll be capable of make stops at increased ranges on condition that his skating isn’t actually elite. These points are why he was lower from Staff USA’s world juniors group. I just like the participant, and I believe he can play within the NHL, however he’s no positive factor.
Jurmo is a fringe NHL prospect at this level, however he’s a powerful athlete, which is why he was a third-round choose in 2020. He’s a giant defenseman who skates very effectively for his dimension and has some talent. He doesn’t have nice hockey sense although and isn’t that competitiv, which makes him an extended shot.
I don’t love that Calgary didn’t get a real premium younger asset again on this deal even when it was for a rental. When you actually imagine in Brzustewicz as a possible top-four defenseman, which a minority of NHL scouts do, perhaps you assume they did, however I don’t venture him as that presently. The very best asset Calgary will get is a late first-round choose, and a hope to show round Kuzmenko with extra alternative. The return for a fantastic rental is all the time underwhelming, however this one specifically doesn’t really feel nice for the Flames.
Canucks grade: B+
Flames grade: B-
(Photograph of Elias Lindholm and J.T. Miller: Derek Cain / Getty Pictures)
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